Dr wants me to stop treatment...

[medicmommy]

Well, it finally happened...Hep Dr just called and wants me to stop treatment...I only have 1 shot and 11 days to go...But hemoglobin and hematocrit have dropped more....Was 9.0 and 26  last week...I'm seriously thinking about finishing anyway...If I relapse, I'd always wonder if the last bit wouldn't have made the difference...(I have been undetectable since week #4 of txing, so maybe missing the last doesn't matter?...) Anyone experience this and relapse or not? Sigh...Anyone have advice on this?                                                                                                                        ~Melinda                                                                                                        

[pKinCA]

Hi again Melinda!

I think you're pretty much SVR already!  But, I also think that if I were you and made it that far into tx, I'd probably do exactly what you're doing -- last shot, 1/2 riba.  That way you've eliminated the "woulda, coulda, shouldas..."  

Well, are you excited or what????  Soon, you'll be returning to the land of the normal !!  :-)  Hopefully you'll bounce back quickly and hit the pavement running!  I know it's been torture for you to be so sedentary!!  Just remember to pace yourself  :-)

pK

PS  When will you do your first post-tx VL?  3 months, or ??

[l-horn]

Congrats on completing your treatment. I say that because I see so many people in your situation that think stopping short 3-4 weeks short is somehow a 'failure' or 'bad news'.

It's not. You made it. Put any thought if that not being a success or accomplishment out of your mind, put those drugs away and start feeling good again and living your life.

Good job.

[Lady Lauri]

Hi lady :)

...........If I do relapse, I'd always regret not doing so.........
And that's what got me thru weeks 7, 8, 9, 12, 16, 18, 21, 22.....LOL!

I stopped at 23 weeks, due to a miscalculating on the NP's part!! (I TOLD her so!)  When I went in 10 days later Dr. told me not to do it, I was soooo sick and he said either I have it by now or I don't, 1 more wouldn't make it or break it. I also was down to 90mg Peg, 600 Riba by week 16! 12 wk. labs were UND and 24 wks, coming up in August. Do keep in mind you have weeks to heal up, your body return to 'normal' etc. If you trust your Dr.s advice also, as I really did. He's the best. I still have 4 shots in my fridge! Not sure why...????  :)

  HAPPY HEALING GIRL....YOU MADE IT!  :)

LL

[Krusing]

I think you made the right decision, since YOU made it!!  My doc pulled me off riba week 40 thru 43, my anemia has FINALLY begun to abate and I'm back on 2 pills am and 2 pm.  The HORROFIC rash is gone and if it comes back, I know that I'm done with TX in 5 weeks and I, too, refuse to quit this late into the battle!

Hugs Neighbor!!
Shannon

[nygirl7]

I think you've come to a perfect compromise. I can relate I would HAVE to do that last shot - in fact when my 72 weeks were over I felt really scared at stopping THEN like I wanted to do even more weeks as crazy as that sounds!  There is a mental withdrawl that we all have to go through - like letting go of a comforting blanket as it is, stopping a week short would have driven me crazy if I relapsed!

I too think for certain you've got a high enough riba serum since your hemo is so LOW it seems to suggest that...and we all know it DOES take good time to get out of your system.......what difference will that one week make, nada so good thinking!

Congrats to you medicmommy on all fronts!

[Marcia2202]

great decision!

Marcia

[medicmommy]

Thanks everyone. I've decided to not completely stop, but to 1/2 the riba dose, and do the last shot. If I don't, and I do relapse, I'd always regret not doing so, and wonder if it would have made the difference...(I'll tell my Dr AFTER I'm done :)...)I do appreciate everyone's input on this...I believe that, at this point, stopping probably wouldn't make a difference, but why chance it? Eh?
                                                                                                  ~Melinda

[comeagain]

Ask dr Dieterich pronto mark the envelop express!

Think you already have put your stiletto to the beasts temple and with a HA!  ended
his exsistens, but as said before his good on pretending dead.

Why does this thing happens!!??

ca

[Marcia2202]

It must be a very hard decision and I would combine Jim's, pK's  and GoofyDad's advice of getting the doc to let you do your last shot and to bring down the Riba dose.

I wish you the best in getting this done properly. And am rooting for your SVR!!!

Marcia

[GoofyDad]

After many weeks of hgb well under 10 - my Doc finally made me promise to reduce the riba by 1 pill towards the end of tx. That brought the HGB up quite sharply, as he said it would. But I was on procrit, and I think you are not. Still, I think a riba reduction would be my choice.  Of course you should discuss this with a doctor.

[desrt]

UND since week 4 with geno 3a means you've probably already done way more SOC than you needed. If you want to be ob/comp about it, do the shot and skip the riba. Your RBCs will thank you.

[Deb_c430]

like jims and pk's advice,  of course it is a decsion only you can make. personally  I would finish,  Like you I would always wonder if it didn't go the right way/  

best of luck in what ever you decide.

Deb

[pKinCA]

Hey Melinda!

What about a reduced dosage of riba?  Maybe half the amount...

How are your white blood cells and/or ANC?  If those are "ok" maybe take your last shot for peace of mind?

Lastly, there is also Dr. Dieterich on the Expert Forum to run this by, if you're so inclined...

I can't believe you made it 24 weeks without rescue drugs!!!  

pK

[rita863]

I like Jm advise, and i would feel like you, would that one more shot be the one you need to achieve SVR.  I would just take it, but thats me.  I am not one to listen to my doctors, they have tried to reduce riba three times and now and i keep refusing.

Good luck

peace
rita

[jmjm530]

A compromise might be to take your shot and eliminate the riba which is most responsible for the decline in hemoglobin anyway. By this point you should have enough riba in your system to last you for some time! Why don't you discuss with your doctor.

[zazza]

I was told by my doc to stop tx'ing 3 weeks short of 72 because of thyroid issues. I did research on the web and contacted another doctor, an endocrologist, and because of the advice I found I decided to do my last 3 weeks. So that is what you could do, find out more and see if you and perhaps another doc agree with your doc's opinion.

You might very well reach SVR even without that last week, but it is hard not to finish just to make sure. At least that is how I felt.

Good luck,
Za